Children can be separated from their parents when one parent is placed in immigration detention. Sometimes the parent will have served a criminal sentence - often for an immigration offence - and, instead of being reunited with their children post-sentence, are placed in immigration detention. The decision to detain is not sanctioned by a court, is not time-limited and detainees have no automatic publicly-funded legal representation.

We provide legal advice, information and representation to families affected by immigration detention where one parent, usually the main carer, is detained. We also carry out research and use evidence from our casework to advocate for more humane alternatives to be used and for the best interests of children to be central to any decision involving the family.